Boom heel support



Oct. 5, 1965 J. B. MONTGOMERY ETAL 3,210,103

BOOM HEEL SUPPORT Filed Sept. 50, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS J AMES BMomeoMERY @uhLuAM T. SPARRouJ l3 zM/WQ W ATTORNEYS Oc 5, 1965 .1. B. MONTGOMERY ETAL 3,210,103

BOOM HEEL SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 U m A United States Patent 3,210,103 BOOM HEEL SUPPORT James B. Montgomery, Newport News, and William T. Sparrow, Hampton, Va., assignors to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va., a corporation of "irginia Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,631 4 Claims. (Cl. 287-21) The present invention relates to a new and novel boom heel support, and more particularly to a boom heel support especially adapted for use in the type of rig wherein the boom is adapted to be swung through a large angle and through a position where the boom is in a substantially vertical position.

The present invention is directed to an arrangement for supporting the type of boom commonly employed for shipboard cargo loading and unloading operations. The boom heel support of the present invention may be utilized where a boom is employed with a single king post, and is particularly directed to an arrangement wherein a single boom is adaptedto operate and be mounted along a center line extending substantially between a pair of king posts, the boom being swingable either to a position over a hatch position forwardly of the king posts or over a hatch position rearwardly of the king posts. With this type of arrangement, it becomes necessary from time to time to swing the boom between the king posts when moving from operations at one hatch to operations at the other hatch.

It is apparent that in this type of loading and unloading operation, it is important that the boom be mounted for substantially universal movement such that it can be swung and topped to any position. In order to accomplish this desired end result, the boom of the present invention is mounted so that it can be freely rotated with respect to the boom support means which may be fixed to the deck or other structure of the ship, the boom being swingable between substantially vertical and substantially horizontal positions or to any intermediate position as is necessary. With this arrangement the boom can be moved to any desired operative position.

As mentioned previously, it becomes necessary to occasionally swing the boom through a substantially vertical position between the king posts when moving from one hatch to another. As is often the case, the boom does not always pass through the kingposts in a plane which is exactly vertical and spaced midway between the king posts, but in many instances, the boom is not exactly midway between the king posts as it passes through a vertical plane passing through the axes of the king posts, but rather is spaced to the side of the first mentioned plane which extends substantially midway between the king posts in a vertical direction and which would extend longitudinally of the ship. As a result, it becomes extremely important to provide a boom heel support construction which will permit a certain amount of movement of the boom to either side of vertical as it passes between the king posts to eliminate the development of bending stresses in the boom heel support and the boom.

In the present invention, the heel portion of the boom includes a socket means which is supported on the upper portion of the boom support means, the socket means including surfaces defining portions of spherical surfaces so that the boom is adapted to move in a substantially universal manner with respect to the boom support means and yet is maintained in intimate bearing contact therewith. The socket means includes an elongated slot means which receives the lower portion of the boom support means and which permits turning movement of the boom through 360 with respect to the boom support means, and also permits the boom to be raised and lowered or 3,210,103 Ratented Oct. 5, 1965 swung through an angle between substantially vertical and substantially horizontal positions as required. As a practical matter, the boom in many instances will be swung below a horizontal position so that the boom will in face define an angle of greater than with respect to vertical as when it is in its servicing position, for example.

Two modifications of the invention are illustrated and descirbed herein, each of these modifications including a socket means at the lower end of the boom, this socket means including a pair of depending plates which are secured to the lower end of the boom, these plates including inwardly facing surfaces defining portions of spherical surfaces for contacting the substantially spherical bearing surface of the boom support means. These plate means also include depending portions defining side edges which when the plates are in operative position are substantially parallel with one another each of these side edges including at a medial portion thereof a cutout. The major portions of the side edges are disposed parallel with one another and spaced to define major slot portions which are adapted to receive the lower substantially cylindrical portion of the boom support means. The intermediate cutout portions provide portions of the slot which are of greater width than the remaining major portions of the slot means, these enlarged intermediate portions of the slot permitting a limited degree of angular movement in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to a plane which bisects the slot means of the socket means and which extends substantially parallel with the opposite parallel side edges of the plates. This limited degree of angular movement is permitted when the boom is in a substantially vertical position, the cutout portions being of limited extent so as to permit this angular movement only when the boom is substantially vertical, the remaining portions of the slot means being adapted to receive the lower portion of the boom support means rather snugly to prevent such angular movement when the boom means is in positions other than a substantially vertical one. With this arrangement, the boom is adapted to move to any desired operative position, and at the same time it is permitted a slight degree of movement to either side of vertical as it passes between the king posts.

It is, of course, evident that the boom heel support of the present invention may also be utilized with booms employed in one-hatch operations, although it is particularly adapted for use with booms employed in multi-hatch operations. The boom heel support of the present invention in eifect provides a single ball and socket spherical bearing means which replaces the prior art bearing means utilized for the same purpose and including the combination of a thrust bearing and one or more radial bearing means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel boom heel support which permits a boom to be swung and topped to any desired operative position relative to a single king post or a pair of king posts employed in conjunction with the boom in the conventional shipboard manner.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a boom heel support especially adapted for use in a type of shipboard rig where the boom is mounted substantially on a center line extending between a pair of king posts, the boom being mounted substantially midway between the king posts and being adapted to pass between the two king posts in moving from a position for operation with a forward hatch to a position for operation in conjunction with a rearward hatch relative to the king posts. While the hatches have been defined as being used forward or rearward of the king posts, it is of course also apparent that the hatches could be disposed at opposite sides athwart ships of the king posts in certain instances.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boom heel support for use with a boom positioned between a pair of king posts wherein the boom heel support includes a slot means at the lower portion thereof which receives a portion of a boom support means, means being provided for permitting a small amount of angular movement of the boom perpendicular to a plane bisecting and extending substantially parallel with the opposite edges of the slot when the boom is being passed between the king posts and is in approximately a vertical position.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a boom heel support which is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet which is sturdy and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view partly broken away of a shipboard cargo handling boom mounted on the boom heel support of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the boom heel support of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the retaining plates of the first modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the ar rows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1010 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts througout the several views, the boom support means of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10, and includes a lower portion 12 which is of elongated substantially cylindrical configuration and which ordinarily will extend in a substantially vertical direction, lower portion 12 being fixed to the deck 13 or other suitable supporting structure of the ship. The boom support means includes an enlarged upper portion 15 having an arcuate outer support surface formed thereon which de fines a portion of a spherical surface. In other words, the boom support means comprises in general a ball support configuration.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a particular rig is illustrated, it being understood that the boom support of the present invention is equally suitable for use with other types of rigs. In the illustrated rig, the boom means is indicated generally by reference numeral and comprises a tubular substantially frusto-conical portion 22 having a topping lift attachment means indicated generally by reference numeral 24 fixedly secured to the upper end thereof. The topping lift attachment means is provided with a pair of depending ears 25 and 26 formed at the opposite ends thereof which extend downwardly and outwardly thereof and have holes formed therein whereby the ears are adapted to be secured to conventional topping lift lines. Disposed immediately below attachment means 24 is a support means indicated generally by reference numeral 30, support means 30 being held against longitudinal movement relative to the boom but being freely rotatable thereon throughout 360 of rotation in either direction. The support means includes a laterally extending flange portion 32 which supports a block or sheave assembly 34 over which is trained a cargo fall line 35 attached to a cargo hook or the like as is conventional in the art.

Disposed at the lower end of the boom means is the heel portion or socket means of the present invention indicated generally by reference numeral 40. This socket means includes an integral boom portion 42 which extends downwardly and outwardly of the lower end of the boom to define an enlarged portion, a downwardly facing seat or bearing surface 43 being defined within portion 42 and defining a substantially hemispherical surface. This hemispherical surface is adapted to rest and bear upon the substantially spherical outer support surface of the enlarged portion 15 and the boom support means as is apparent from the drawings.

A pair of oppositely extending integral outwardly radially extending flanges 46 and 47 are provided at the lowermost end of portion 42, flange 46 having a plurality of spaced holes 46 shown as being three in number formed therethrough while the flange 47 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 47 shown as being three in number formed therethrough. Nut and bolt assemblies 46" and 47" are adapted to extend through the holes 46 and 47' respectively for a purpose hereinafter described.

A pair of cutout portions 50 and 51 are provided in the wall of portion 42 at diametrically opposite sides thereof, these cutout portions serving as the opposite end portions of the over-all slot defined by the socket means as hereinafter explained, it being noted that the opposite ends of the flanges 46 and 47 coincide with the opposite side edges of the cutouts 50 and 51.

A pair of retaining means or plates 55 and 56 are provided, these retaining plates being identical in construction and having formed thereon respectively inwardly facing bearing surfaces 57 and 58 which define portions of a spherical surface.

Plates 55 and 56 are provided with integral laterally outwardly extending flange portions 60 and 61 at the upper edges thereof, these flanges having formed therethrough a plurality of spaced holes 60 and 61' respec tively, the holes being shown as being three in number. It is apparent that when in assembled position, the nut and bolt assemblies 46 and 47 extend downwardly through the respective openings in the flanges 46 and 47 of portion 42 of the boom and then through the respective openings in the flange portions 60 and 61 so as to secure the retaining plates in operative position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 inclusive.

It will be noted that when the retaining plates are secured in the operative position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 inclusive, the bearing surfaces on portions 42, 55 and 56 are each flush with one another and cooperate to define a socket means including an inwardly facing bearing surface which defines a portion of a spherical surface and which is adapted to snugly receive and slide upon the outwardly facing substantially spherical supporting surface formed on the upper portion 15 of the boom support means.

It will also be noted that when the retaining plates are in operative position, the opposed substantially parallel side edges 55' and 56' of members 55 and 56 respectively define the opposite longitudinally extending side edges of an arcuate slot which continues into the cutout portions 50 and 51 such that the over-all slot means defined by the cutouts 50 and 51 and the slot defined between faces 55 and 56 extends through a substantial are which may be greater than With this arrangement, the boom is permitted to swing from a substantially vertical position down into a substantially horizontal position or into any intermediate position at an angle between the horizontal and the vertical. In certain instances the boom may be swung to a position below horizontal.

The side edges 55' and 56' define a slot having a Width which receives the cylindrical portion 12 of the boom support means, this slot being such as to have a slight clearance with the cylindrical portion but receiving it relatively snugly such that there can be no great degree of angular movement of the boom in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting the slot in lengthwise direction when the boom is in other than vertical position.

In order to allow the desired degree of angular movement when the boom is in a substantially vertical position, the side edges 55 and 56 are provided respectively with cutout portions 65 and 66 respectively, these cutout portions being substantially arcuate as seen for example in FIG. 5 and being formed at the medial portion of the side edges and at the lowermost inner portions of the plates 55 and 56 respectively. These cutout portions will define a slot area at the middle portion of the slot of greater width which will permit the boom to have the aforementioned desired angular movement when the boom is in a substantially vertical position, the arcuate configuration of the cutout portions permitting the substantially cylindrical lower portion 12 of the boom support means to fit snugly within such cutout portions.

It is apparent as seen in FIG. 2 that the boom may move through a slight angle at either direction as indicated by arrows A and B such that the lower portion 12 of the boom support means can move into either of the cutout portions 65 or 66, such lateral angular movement as indicated by the arrows being limited by engagement of the portion 12 of the boom support means with the bottom surface of the cutout portions as will be apparent.

It will be noted, for example in FIG. 2 that the cutout portions taper downwardy and outwardly of the respective plates, or in other words, the cutout portions have a greater depth at the lowermost portion of the plates than at an upper portion of the plates. This tapered configuration permits the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 12 to fit flush up against the bottom area of the cutout portion when the boom is in its limit of angular movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated, and in this modification, the boom means is indicated generally by reference numerals 70, being of tubular construction, and may include the same components at the upper or head portion thereof as previously described in connection with FIG. 1 of the drawings. On the other hand, in the modification shown in FIGS. 6 through 10, the boom means is not provided with the integral depending portion similar to that shown at 42 in FIG. 2 for example, but rather simply terminates in the lower tubular portion thereof.

The socket means in this form of the invention includes a pair of plates indicated generally by reference numerals 72 and 74. These plates are of substantially identical construction, plate 72 including an upper portion 75 and plate 74 including an upper portion 77, each of these upper portions including an arcuate inner surface which is adapted to fit snugly about the outer surface of the heel portion of the boom. In other words, the inner surfaces of each of portions 75 and 77 are substantially semi-cylindrical in configuration. In addition, plate 72 is provided with opposite laterally extending flanges 82 while plate 74 is provided with similar oppositely facing laterally extending flanges 84. The two flanges 82 are interconnected with the two flanges 84 by nut and :bolt assemblies 86. Both plates are thereby interconnected with one another, the entire assembly being held in place on the lower portion of the boom by means of a plurality of screw members 80 which extend through suitable threaded openings provided in portion 75 of plate 72 and similar aligned threaded openings provided in the lower side wall portion of the boom.

The boom support means in this case comprises a lower elongated substantially cylindrical portion and an upper enlarged portion 92 defining an outer support surface which is a portion of a spherical surface. The portion 90 is surrounded by a tubular bushing or sleeve 94 which may be formed of suitable anti-friction material such as bronze or the like so as to reduce the wear on the apparatus.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9, plates 72 and 74 include inwardly facing surfaces 72' and 74' each of which define a portion of a spherical surface, and it will be noted as seen in FIG. 8 that when the plates are in the assembled operative position, these inwardly facing surfaces 72' and 74' define a continuous flush spherical surface which is adapted to be in surrounding contacting relation on the substantially spherical supporting surface 92 of the boom support means. It will also be noted as seen in FIG. 8 that plates 72 and 74 include inwardly extending portions which define upwardly facing surfaces 96 and 97 upon which the lower end of the boom is adapted to rest.

Plates 72 and 74 include depending portions 102 and 104 respectively, these depending portions having substantially flat parallel facing side edges 106 and 108 respectively as seen most clearly in FIG. 10, these flat parallel facing side edges defining therebetween an elongated slot which is adapted to receive the lower portion of the boom support means, and a slight clearance may be provided with the outer surface of the bushing 94 such that the boom can be freely swung in a direction parallel with the longitudinal extent of the slot.

Each of the side edges 106 and 108 is provided with a cutout portion at the medial area thereof, these cutout portions being indicated by reference numerals 110 and 112, it being most clearly seen in FIG. 10 that these cutout areas are substantially arcuate and are formed at substantially the midpoint of the respective side edges. Again, as in the previous modification, these cutout portions are tapered in a downward and outward direction as can be most clearly seen in FIG. 8 such that the bushing 94 is adapted to seat snugly within the cutout portions when the boom is moved in an angular direction to its limit of movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting the slot and extending parallel with the opposite side edges thereof. It will, of course, again be noted that the lower portions of the plates define an elongated slot which is of substantially uniform width with the exception of the central or medial portion of the slot which is slightly enlarged by provision of the arcuate cutout portion so as to permit the desired degree of angular movement of the boom as aforesaid when it is in substantially its vertical position.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel boom heel support which permits the boom to be swung and topped to any position. It is apparent that the slot means formed in the socket means at the lower end of the boom will permit the boom to be swung through any angularity desired between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position, and furthermore the slot permits the socket means to be turned about the boom support means. The arrangement of the present invention is especially adapted for use in the type of shipboard loading and unloading rigs where the boom is mounted between a pair of king posts and is adapted to pass between the king posts in an approximate vertical position in moving from one hatch to another. The construction of the slot means of the socket means of each modification permits a small amount of angular movement of the boom in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane passing through the center of and parallel with the opposite side edges of the slot means and extending in a substantially vertical direction. This small amount of angular movement is important when the boom is being passed between the king posts and is in an approximate vertical position. It is evident that the over-all arrangement of the present invention provides a substantially universal spherical bearing support between the boom support means and the heel portion of the boom thereby eliminating the necessity of providing both a thrust and radial bearing means as has been utilized in the prior art. It is apparent that the structure of the present invention is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet at the same time is sturdy and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not resitrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

We claim:

1. A boom heel support comprising boom support means including a generally cylindrical lower portion and an upper portion of enlarged size and defining a support surface defining a portion of a spherical surface, boom means including a heel portion at the lower end thereof, said heel portion including depending socket means, said socket means including inwardly facing surface portions defining portions of a spherical surface to rest upon and engage the support surface of said boom support means, said socket means including a pair of substantially duplicate separate members, means for removably attaching said separate members to the lower portion of said boom means, said separate members including at the lower portions thereof side edge portions which when the separate members are in assembled operative position are disposed substantially parallel with and facing one another and extend in a direction substantially normal to the same diameter of said lower portion of the boom support means, and also extend on both sides of said lower portion of the boom support means with the side edge portions spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said lower portion of the boom support means to define an elongated slot means for receiving and relatively snugly engaging said lower portion of the boom support means, said separate members each 4 portions of a spherical surface for engaging a lower part of said upper portion of the boom support means, said side edge portions including opposed central cutout portions to define an intermediate portion of said slot means of greater width than the remaining portions of said slot means and of greater width than the diameter of said lower portion of the boom support means, said cutout portions being tapered downwardly and outwardly so as to permit angular movement of the boom means, said cutout portions being spaced apart from one another the greatest distance at a point furthest removed from said boom heel portion, thereby permitting swinging movement of said boom means between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position, and further permitting angular movement of said boom means in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane extending longitudinally of said slot means and bisecting said slot means and being substantially parallel with said facing side edge portions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said cutout portions is substantially arcuate and is disposed at the medial area of each of said side edge portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said heel portion of the boom means has slot means formed therein in alignment with the slot defined by said separate members.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said separate members compris plates including laterally extending flange means, and means for securing said flange means of the plates to one another to provide a rigid socket structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,441 5/23 Hodny 287--12 1,570,180 1/26 Pulliam 285-26l 3,049,242 8/62 Stevens 212 X 3,055,341 9/62 Riepe 287---12 FOREIGN PATENTS 913,130 5/46 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS F. CALLAGHAN, Examiner. 

1. A BOOM HEEL SUPPORT COMPRISING BOOM SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL LOWER PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION OF ENLARGED SIZE AND DEFINING A SUPPORT SURFACE DEFINING A PORTION OF A SPHERICAL SURFACE, BOOM MEANS INCLUDING A HEEL PORTION AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID HEEL PORTION INCLUDING DEPENDING SOCKET MEANS, SAID SOCKET MEANS INCLUDING INWARDLY FACING SURFACE PORTIONS DEFINING PORTIONS OF A SPHERICAL SURFACE TO REST UPON AND ENGAGE THE SUPPORT SURFACE OF SAID BOOM SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SOCKET MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SUBATANTIALY DUPLICATE SEPARATE MEMBERS, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY ATACHING SAID SEPARATE MEMBERS TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID BOOM MEANS, SAID SEPARATE MEMBERS INCLUDING AT THE LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF SIDE EDGE PORTIONS WHICH WHEN THE SEPARATE MEMBERS ARE IN ASSEMBLED OPERATIVE POSITION ARE DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH AND FACING ONE ANOTHER END EXTENDED IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE SAME DIAMETER OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF OF SAID LOWER PORTIONF OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS WITH THE OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS WITH THE SIDE EDGE PORTIONS SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS TO DEFINE AN ELONGATED SLOT MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND RELATIVELY SNUGLY ENGAGING SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SEPARATE MEMBERS EACH HAVING THEREON INWARDLYFACING SURFACE PORTIONS DEFINING PORTIONS OF A SPHERICAL SURFACE FOR ENGAGING A LOWER PART OF SAID UPPER PORTION OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SIDE EDGE PORTIONS INCLUDING OPPOSED CENTRAL CUTOUT PORTIONS TO DEFINE AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID SLOT MEANS OF GREATER WIDTH THAN THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID SLOT MEANS AND OF GREATER WIDTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE BOOM SUPPORT MEANS, SAID CUTOUT PORTIONS BEING TAPRED DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY SO AS TO PERMIT ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE BOOM MEANS, SAID CUTOUT PORTIONS BEING SPACED APART FROM ONE ANOTHER THE GREATEST DISTANCE AT A POINT FURTHEST REMOVED FROM SAID BOOM HEEL PORTION, THEREBY PERMITTING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOM MEANS BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, AND FURTHER PERMITTING ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOM MEANS IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A PLANE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SLOT MEANS AND BISECTING SAID SLOT MEANS AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID FACING SIDE EDGE PORTIONS. 